Caladium plant named ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant named ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’, characterized by its intermediate to tall and upright to mounding plant habit; dense, leafy and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; fancy-type leaves that are dark olive green overlain with reddish bronze in color with pale orangish pink-colored blotches and dark green-colored blotches flushed with reddish bronze, and bright reddish pink-colored areas surrounding the venation; petioles that are reddish bronze in color; and tolerance to full sun conditions.

Botanical designation: Caladium X hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium X hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2015 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Southern Charm’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,942, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium X hortulanum ‘Scarlet Flame’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,419, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Avon Park, Fla. in September, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by “chipping” the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’.These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Intermediate to tall and upright to mounding plant habit;         dense, leafy and bushy appearance.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Fancy-type leaves that are dark olive green overlain with         reddish bronze in color with pale orangish pink-colored blotches         and dark green-colored blotches flushed with reddish bronze, and         bright reddish pink-colored areas surrounding the venation.     -   4. Petioles that are reddish bronze in color.     -   5. Tolerant to full sun conditions.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Southern Charm’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark olive green         overlain with reddish bronze in color with pale orangish         pink-colored blotches and dark green-colored blotches flushed         with reddish bronze, and bright reddish pink-colored areas         surrounding the venation whereas leaves of plants of ‘Southern         Charm’ are grey green in color with dark green-colored margins         and red purple-colored venation and areas surrounding the         venation.     -   2. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are reddish         bronze in color whereas leaf petioles of plants of ‘Southern         Charm’ are green in color and tinged with pink.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Scarlet Flame’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than plants of ‘Scarlet         Flame’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium have fancy-type leaves whereas         plants of ‘Scarlet Flame’ have lance-type leaves.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark olive green         overlain with reddish bronze in color with pale orangish         pink-colored blotches and dark green-colored blotches flushed         with reddish bronze, and bright reddish pink-colored areas         surrounding the venation whereas leaves of plants of ‘Scarlet         Flame’ are dark green in color with rose red-colored venation         and pink and rose red-colored spots and blotches.     -   4. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are reddish         bronze in color whereas leaf petioles of plants of ‘Scarlet         Flame’ are dark green in color densely covered with dark         brown-colored streaks and stippling appearing almost black in         color.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Carolyn Whorton’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ are flatter than and         not as cupped as leaves of the new Caladium.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark olive green         overlain with reddish bronze in color with pale orangish         pink-colored blotches and dark green-colored blotches flushed         with reddish bronze, and bright reddish pink-colored areas         surrounding the venation whereas leaves of plants of ‘Carolyn         Whorton’ are olive green in color with pink-colored blotches and         bright red to rose pink-colored venation.     -   3. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are reddish         bronze in color whereas leaf petioles of plants of ‘Carolyn         Whorton’ are tannish pink and tannish green in color with         darker-colored streaks, stippling and tessellations.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium X hortulanum ‘Xplosion’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,570. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Xplosion’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium have fancy-type leaves whereas         plants of ‘Xplosion’ have lance-type leaves.     -   2. Leaves of plants of ‘Xplosion’ are flatter than and not as         cupped as leaves of the new Caladium.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are dark olive green         overlain with reddish bronze in color with pale orangish         pink-colored blotches and dark green-colored blotches flushed         with reddish bronze, and bright reddish pink-colored areas         surrounding the venation whereas leaves of plants of ‘Xplosion’         are dark green in color tinged with greyed purple with red         purple to dark red-colored venation and interveinal areas that         are white in color with light red-colored spots.     -   4. Leaf petioles of plants of the new Caladium are reddish         bronze in color whereas leaf petioles of plants of ‘Xplosion’         are greyed red, green and greyed green in color with dark         brown-colored streaks and stipples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ grown in a container that has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is side perspective view of typical plants of the female parent, ‘Southern Charm’ (left), ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ (center) and the male parent, ‘Scarlet Flame’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ (right), ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ (center) and ‘Xplosion’ (left).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet (FIG. 4) is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ grown in containers, the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet (FIG. 5) is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ grown in an open production field.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 6) is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers with roots and leaf petioles of ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’.

The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 7) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘CWH BRZ OF 16-130’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shade house (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shade house and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shade house-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 1,300 μmol. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and full sunlight conditions. Plants grown in the shade house were twelve weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were 4.5 to 6 months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 and 2015 Editions, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium X hortulanum ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’. -   PARENTAGE:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Southern             Charm’ disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,942.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium X hortulanum ‘Scarlet             Flame’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,419. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             are round to ovate in shape. Height: About 3.2 cm to 3.6 cm.             Diameter: About 5.4 cm to 8.3 cm. Segment height: About 2.9             cm to 3.2 cm. Segment diameter: About 4 cm to 5.2 cm.             Axillary bud shape: Roughly triangular. Axillary bud height:             About 5 mm. Axillary bud width: About 5.5 mm. Texture:             Thick, starchy; somewhat brittle. Color: Periderm,             freshly-harvested: Close to 199A and 199B. Periderm, dried:             Close to 200A to 200B. Epidermis: Close to 158B and 158C;             becoming closer to 161D with subsequent development.             Cortical tissue: Close to 4D. Axillary buds: Close to 37D             variably marked and tinged with close to 202A. Root             description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots with few             lateral branches; color, close to N155D, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots. Rooting habit: Dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded and full sunlight areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate to tall and upright to             mounding plant habit; dense, leafy and bushy appearance;             vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; potted plants             finish in saleable form in about eight weeks after planting             tubers; leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more             growing points on tubers; leaf petioles initially upright             and leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers de-eyed.—About 46 cm to 49             cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.—About 50.8 cm             to 53 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of floral plane, shade             house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed.—About 29 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About 43 cm to 48 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About 43 cm to 45 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About four to five develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shade house-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About three to four develop per #1             tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shade house-grown potted plants.—Length: About             3.5 cm to 5.1 cm. Width: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate or wedge-shaped. Apex: Variable, acute or             emarginate. Base: Sheathing the stem. Texture and luster,             outer and inner surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.             Color, outer surface: Close to 177D densely streaked and             stippled with close to 200A and 200B; occasionally tinged             with close to 147A; color becoming closer to 200B to 200C             with subsequent development. Color, inner surface: Close to             N155B and 49D, occasionally faintly flushed with close to             184B, with colors and color patterns from outer surface             visible. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers not             de-eyed.—About 20 cm to 28 cm.         -   Width, shade house-grown potted plants, tubers not de-eyed,             flattened.—About 12.2 cm to 16.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate, cordate; leaves cupped proximally.         -   Apex.—Acuminate, acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate-peltate; cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; dull to slightly glossy sheen.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; veins             and areas surrounding the veins slightly glaucous; leathery;             dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and palmate.         -   Color, shade house-grown potted plants.—When developing and             fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Background color: Much             darker than 147A variably flushed with close to N186C.             Margins: Close to 187B. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Midvein             and lateral venation: Close to 185A tinged with close to             53A; surrounding the veins, close to 183A and 181B.             Blotches: When opening, close to 155C becoming closer to             39C, 182C and 185D with development. When developing and             fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Background color:             Close to 191A variably tinged with close to 189A. Margins:             Close to 187C. Basal notch: Close to 187A. Midvein: Close to             182C densely streaked and blushed with close to 185A and             185B; surrounding the midvein, close to 182A and 184A.             Lateral venation: Close to N187A and 181C; surrounding the             veins, close to 182A and 184A. Spots and blotches: Close to             36A, 50D, 51C and N170D.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight and leaning             outwardly with development; flexible. Length, shade             house-grown potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 24             cm to 38 cm. Length, shade house-grown potted plants: When             tubers are not de-eyed, about 25 cm to 42 cm. Diameter,             distally, shade house-grown potted plants: When tubers are             de-eyed, about 2 mm to 4.5 mm. Diameter, proximally, shade             house-grown potted plants: When tubers are de-eyed, about 5             mm to 9 mm. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, shade house-grown potted plants: Close to 181C and             181D flushed with close to 183B and 183C and variably tinged             with close to 146A to 146B; with streaks and stippling,             close to 200C variably and faintly tinged with close to             147A; just below the leaf junction, close to 182C with dense             streaks and stippling, close to 185B. Wing length, shade             house-grown potted plants: About 6.8 cm to 10 cm. Wing             diameter, shade house-grown potted plants: About 7 mm to             9 mm. Texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Texture and luster, outer surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glaucous, dull sheen. Wing color, shade house-grown             potted plants: Inner surface: Close to N155C and 49D;             distally, occasionally flushed and streaked with close to             184B; colors and patterns on the outer surface are visible             on the inner surface. Outer surface: Close to 177D, densely             streaked and stippled with close to 200A and 200B typically             tinged with close to 147A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on an upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; jasmine-like with camphor note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about eight weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 9.5 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 5.3 cm. Length, proximal closed portion:             About 4.2 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.9 cm.             Depth, distal open portion: About 1.5 cm. Width, at             constriction: About 1.2 cm to 1.4 cm. Width, proximal closed             portion: About 2.5 cm. Shape, open portion: Obovate. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire; distally, reflexed.             Texture and luster, front surface: Smooth, glabrous;             distally, dull sheen, and proximally, glossy. Texture and             luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous; dull sheen;             proximally, slightly glaucous. Color, front surface: Distal             open portion: Close to 155C; with variable and random areas             faintly tinged with close to 187D; with subsequent             development, distally becoming closer to 199A. Proximal             closed portion: Close to 187A and 187B; color does not             change with subsequent development. Color, rear surface:             Distal open portion: Close to 155C, in the center, faintly             flushed with close to 145D with sparse flecking, close to             187D; color does not change with subsequent development.             Proximal closed portion: Close to 147C and 147D variably             streaked with close to 138A; margins and constriction area             are flushed with close to 183C and 183D; color does not             change with subsequent development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 8 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 4.5 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.5 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 2 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 8 mm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 6 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 7 mm. Shape:             Columnar, spindle-shaped. Apex: Rounded to acute. Base:             Obtuse. Aspect: Upright. Color, mature, male zone: Close to             158D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 158D. Color,             mature, female zone: Close to 155D. Male flowers: Quantity             per spadix: About 120. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm.             Diameter: About 3 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 4D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 95.             Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 158D.         -   Scapes.—Length: About 19.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; somewhat flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect,             straight. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 182B and 182C tinged with close to 177A with             stippling, streaks and stripes, close to 200B and 200C; just             below the spathe, close to 181D tinged with close to 48C and             48D and sparsely streaked with close to 146D tinged with             147D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Pathogen tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot and above     average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have tolerance/resistance to     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature & full sun tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have     been observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to     about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In     cooler zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and     stored in a cool dry environment to overwinter for re-planting the     following spring. Plants of the new Caladium have been observed to     be tolerant to full sunlight conditions. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘CWH BRZ OF16-130’ as illustrated and described. 